Francesco Cirelli - Rosso

Agricola Cirelli is the name of the organic farm situated on 22 hectares where Francesco Cirelli works the land. Everything produced on the farm is done so respecting the sustainable natural cycles of their olive groves, vineyards, organic horticultural crop fields and animal breeding. Crop rotation, a period of rest for the soil, fertilization and livestock grazing are only some of the vital steps in the process of producing wine (in terracotta wine jars), olive oil, organically grown fruit and vegetables and meat of the finest quality.

All work in the vineyard is done with an eye to sustainability. No herbicides or chemical fertilizers are used. The soil is maintained through the use of a preparation of cow manure. The grapes are manually selected and hand-picked as well. Agricola Cirelli makes wines from Montepulciano and Trebbiano, grape varieties that are native to Abruzzo. Additionally, there is some pecorino.

Winemaking is guided by the mantra “the less you do, the better.” This minimal intervention philosophy translates into a bare minimum of equipment. Every aspect of winemaking is based on the harvest of the year: fermentation, maceration, and aging all depend on what took place in the vineyard.

Central to the process is the use of amphora containers. Going back over 7,000 years, these containers have a minimal ecological footprint and are ideal for the slow and consistent micro-oxygenation of the wine. Their amphorae are made by a terracotta artisan in Tuscany, have a capacity of 800 litres, and are equipped with a stainless steel cover which limits the contact of oxygen with the wine.